SPINE
Undergoing spine surgery is a significant step, but the operation itself is only one part of the process. Recovery continues long after you leave the operating room, and knowing what to expect can make the postoperative period feel more manageable.
Every patient's recovery is different. The type of surgery performed, your overall health, and your activity level before surgery can all influence your recovery. Most importantly, your surgeon's specific postoperative instructions should always take priority.
Here are some general things to keep in mind as you recover after spine surgery.
1. Some Pain and Discomfort Are Expected
It is normal to experience some degree of pain, stiffness, muscle soreness, or fatigue following spine surgery. Surgical pain does not necessarily mean something is wrong - it is part of the body's healing process and should generally improve over time.
You may also notice that the symptoms you experienced before surgery do not disappear immediately. Numbness, tingling, or other nerve-related symptoms can sometimes take longer to improve because nerves need time to recover.
Rather than focusing on how you feel from one day to the next, it can be helpful to look at your overall progress from week to week.
If your pain is becoming significantly worse rather than gradually improving, or you develop new symptoms, contact your surgical team.
2. Walking Is an Important Part of Recovery
After spine surgery, you may be surprised by how quickly your care team encourages you to get up and move.
Walking is one of the simplest and most important activities during recovery. Short, frequent walks can help gradually rebuild your endurance and reduce the amount of time spent sedentary.
Start with distances that feel manageable and gradually increase your activity as tolerated and as directed by your surgical team. Recovery is not a race. Doing too much too quickly can sometimes increase soreness and fatigue.
Unless specifically cleared by your surgical team, avoid strenuous exercise and activities that exceed your postoperative restrictions.
3. Follow Your Bending, Lifting, and Twisting Restrictions
Depending on your procedure, your surgical team may temporarily limit bending, lifting, or twisting while your spine heals.
Even when you begin to feel better, the tissues beneath the skin are still recovering. Following your postoperative restrictions helps protect the surgical area during this early healing period.
Be mindful of everyday activities that may involve more bending or twisting than you realize, such as doing laundry, vacuuming, picking something up from the floor, carrying groceries, or lifting children and pets.
Your surgical team will let you know when and how these restrictions can gradually be lifted.
4. Take Care of Your Incision
Keep your surgical incision clean and follow the wound-care instructions provided by your surgical team.
Some tenderness around the incision can be expected after surgery. However, contact your surgical team if you notice increasing redness or swelling, drainage from the incision, the incision beginning to open, or other concerning changes.
You should also notify your healthcare provider if you develop a fever or chills, particularly when accompanied by changes to the surgical site.
Avoid applying creams, ointments, or other products to the incision unless instructed to do so.
5. Take Medications as Directed
Your postoperative medication regimen may include medications for pain, muscle spasms, or other symptoms depending on your procedure and individual needs.
Take medications only as prescribed and make sure you understand how and when each medication should be taken. Some medications can cause drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, or constipation.
If you are prescribed opioid pain medication, do not take more than directed and avoid combining it with alcohol or other sedating substances unless specifically cleared by your healthcare provider.
As your pain improves, your surgical team may provide instructions for gradually reducing certain medications.
6. Support Your Body While It Heals
Healing requires energy. Adequate nutrition, hydration, and sleep all play important roles in your recovery.
A balanced diet that includes sufficient protein can help provide your body with the nutrients it needs for tissue healing. Staying hydrated and eating fiber-rich foods may also help with constipation, which is common after surgery and can be worsened by certain pain medications and decreased activity.
Nicotine use can interfere with blood flow and healing and is particularly concerning following procedures that depend on bone healing, such as spinal fusion. Follow your surgical team's recommendations regarding smoking and nicotine use before and after surgery.
7. Know When to Call Your Surgical Team
Recovery will have its ups and downs, but certain symptoms should not be ignored.
Contact your surgical team if you experience concerning changes such as worsening pain that is not controlled with your prescribed treatment plan, increasing redness or drainage from your incision, fever or chills, or new or worsening numbness or weakness.
Seek urgent medical attention for symptoms such as new loss of bowel or bladder control, numbness around the groin or saddle region, significant or rapidly progressive weakness, chest pain, difficulty breathing, or other severe or rapidly worsening symptoms.
When in doubt, it is always appropriate to contact your healthcare team with questions about your recovery.
Recovery Takes Time
One of the most important things to remember after spine surgery is that healing is a process.
You may have days when you feel noticeably better and others when you feel more sore or tired. That does not necessarily mean you are moving backward. Instead of comparing your recovery to someone else's, focus on your own progress and the milestones established by your surgical team.
Attend your scheduled postoperative appointments, follow your activity restrictions, gradually increase your activity as instructed, and communicate with your healthcare team if you have questions or concerns.
Your surgical team is there not only to perform your surgery, but also to help guide you through the recovery that follows.
Questions to Ask at Your Post-Op Appointment
Your postoperative visits are a great opportunity to check in on your progress and make sure you understand the next steps in your recovery. Consider asking your surgical team:
· When can I return to work and driving?
· What activities or movements should I still avoid?
· When can I start physical therapy or return to exercise?
· How should I gradually increase my activity?
· Is my incision healing as expected?
· What symptoms should prompt me to call the office?
Remember: Recovery looks different for everyone. Your surgical team will help guide you based on your procedure and individual progress.
